William Harry Spilman came up with the Reds and played parts of four seasons with them before he was traded to the Astros in 1981 for Rafael Landestoy. Spilman lasted through the 1985 season, hitting .212 with seven homers in 184 games. He signed with the Tigers in free agency and then moved on to the Giants before he returned to Houston in 1988 and played one final season in 1989.

While an Astro, Spilman compiled a .222 average and seven homers. For his 12 big league seasons, he hit .237 with 18 homers.